Geoff Steck’s
THANK GOODNESS IT’S MONDAY
TGIM #282
TAX REFORM 2011
BEN SAYS: YOU CAN PROSPER
Four decades ago I began my career in publishing in the Executive Reports Division of the world’s (then) biggest textbook publisher, Prentice-Hall, Inc.
We created and sold by direct mail over a dozen business skill-building and business-centric legal compliance newsletters, as well as updated-regularly-by-subscription-supplementation Manuals and Guides in these areas.
And we were responsible for the biggest bestseller no one ever heard of: The released-annually Federal Tax Course.
So every year at about this time: We would crash into production and ship a 1,000+ page volume to businesses, accountants and attorneys “to help you easily handle the many newly effective Tax Law changes – to help you avoid new pitfalls and save time, trouble and money.”
And, every year just prior to this shipment: We would sweat every little move by the legislators in Washington D.C. as they fretted and fussed and fidgeted with down-to-the-wire changes in the Tax Code.
Just like today.
So as we wait and wonder and worry about pending Tax Law action from the current Congressional crowd, I’d like to share with you some TGIM-Worthy Wisdom from another great publisher of ages past who had some firm ideas and sound strategies for citizens to implement in the face of “taxing” changes.
I could retell it. But I would be doing the author a disservice; so most of the balance of this TGIM will consist of his 18th Century observations, spiffed up for the 21st Century digital delivery with some editing and highlighting by me.
Even with 2011 Tax Law changes pending: Here’s a wealth of wisdom “to help you easily handle the many newly effective Tax Law changes – to help you avoid new pitfalls and save time, trouble and money” from –
Benjamin Franklin
In The Way to Wealth (1758), the classic essay summarizing his advice from several decades of publishing his annual Poor Richard’s Almanac, he said:
Courteous Reader,
I stopped my horse lately, where a great number of people were collected at an auction of merchants’ goods. The hour of the sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean, old man, with white locks:
“Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Will not these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we ever be able to pay them? What would you advise us to?”
Father Abraham stood up, and replied –
“If you would have my Advice, I will give it you in short; for A word to the wise is enough, as Poor Richard says.”
They joined in desiring him to speak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows.
“Friends,” said he, “the taxes are indeed very heavy, and, if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them.
“But we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us.
We are taxed twice as much by our idleness
… three times as much by our pride
… and four times as much by our folly
And from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us.
However, let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us; God helps them that help themselves, as Poor Richard says.
Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears; while the used key is always bright, as Poor Richard says.
But dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of, as Poor Richard says.
How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep, forgetting, that The sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that There will be sleeping enough in the grave, as Poor Richard says.
If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be, as Poor Richard says, the greatest prodigality; since, as he elsewhere tells us, Lost time is never found again; and What we call time enough, always proves little enough.
Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity.
Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy; and He that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while Laziness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes him.
Drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise, as Poor Richard says.
“So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times?”
We may make these times better if we bestir ourselves. Industry need not wish, and He that lives upon hopes will die fasting.
There are no gains without pains.
He that hath a trade hath an estate; and He that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honor, as Poor Richard says; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes.
If we are industrious, we shall never starve; for At the working man’s house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.
Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for Industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them.
Though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, Diligence is the mother of good luck.
Work while it is called today, for you know not how much you may be hindered tomorrow. One, today is worth two tomorrows, as Poor Richard says; and further, Never leave that till tomorrow, which you can do today.
If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle?
Are you then your own master?
Be ashamed to catch yourself idle, when there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your country….
It is true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed; but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects; for Constant dropping wears away stones; and By diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and Little strokes fell great oaks.
Methinks I hear some of you say, “Must a man afford himself no leisure?”
I will tell thee, my friend, what Poor Richard says, Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and, Since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour.
TGIM ACTION IDEA: I will tell thee, my friend, “Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose,” as Ben Franklin says.
And, Courteous Reader, let’s hope our elected officials can do the same.
Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing
8 Depot Square
Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373
tgimguy@gmail.com
P.S. “The only thing that hurts more than paying an income tax is not having to pay an income tax.” Often attributed to Lord Thomas R. Dewar (1864–1930), whiskey distiller and marketer.
P.P.S. Another not-taxing way to prepare for prosperity in 2011 is to employ the wealth-building secrets and strategies revealed in Mastering the World of Selling!
This holiday season give yourself – and everyone else who can improve your bottom line – the gift of razor-sharp sales skills. Your #1 resource: 2010’s most-praised compilation of 21st Century thinking from 88+ World Class Sales Professionals: Mastering the World of Selling – the Ultimate Training Resource from the Biggest Names in Sales. Do not let another day pass without its valuable guidance. Act now and reap the benefits immediately! To add it to your personal and professional library and start immediately reaping the benefit of all the bonus sales-training audios, e-books, podcasts, interviews and special reports available to TGIM readers, CLICK HERE.
You can find the latest Empowerment Group International goings on at the new-look website by clicking HERE.
GEOFF STECK leads Alexander Publishing & Marketing, a company he formed in 1986. The core AP&M mission: To create and publish leadership, sales mastery, self-improvement and workplace skill-building resources and tools. The focus: Areas such as business communication, staff support, customer care and frontline management. Geoff also puts his corporate and entrepreneurial experience, independent perspective, and skills as a catalyst to work for other firms (ranging from multinational corporations to more modest operations), not-for-profits, and individuals who have conceived or developed programs or initiatives but are frustrated in getting them implemented.
